Pentagon Idiocy - Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Talk about idiocy. PageOneQ is reporting that the Pentagon is encouraging gays discharged under the stupid Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy to "continue to serve their nation and national security by putting their abilities to use by way of civilian employment with other Federal agencies, the Department of Defense, or in the private sector, such as with a government contractor.” (See: http://pageoneq.com/news/2007/pentagon062707.html) . A copy of a Pentagon press letter is set out above. Highlights of the article follow:

According to SLDN Communications Director Steve Ralls, "Pentagon leaders clearly acknowledge that lesbian and gay Americans make important contributions to our national security and that our country is better off when their skills are employed, not turned away."

Pentagon public affairs no longer made a 'necessity argument,' and no longer pointed to any support for the law among its command or the rank-and-file. Instead, the debate over 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' became one the Pentagon deferred to Congress to settle. Congress, the Pentagon correctly pointed out, has full authority to debate the law and, if they see fit, repeal it. With this new statement, DoD has taken an even more significant step forward. Now, Congress should repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and welcome every American who wants to serve, regardless of sexual orientation.”

This in particular illustrates the idiocy of the current policy:

Daimeon Pilcher, a former member of the Air Force, told PageOneQ, "I met my first boyfriend when he was an openly gay contractor working with me at the Pentagon. He was out of the closet and served in a support role to some of the nation's highest ranked military officers.

The situation with my clients who I posted about last week does the same: their command deems them to be mission essential and is trying to make the charges go away.